Circuit arrangement for transmitting a signaling voltage under control of an auxiliary voltage



April 3, 1951 J. H. JONKE'R ETAL 2,547,215 CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSMITTING A SIGNALING VOLTAGE UNDER CONTROL OF AN AUXILIARY VOLTAGE Filed Feb. 15, 1949 E? SECONDARYJFMISSIVE JECMYWJW izscfzzozw zzz cmo z 22 J 11 13 j AH 19 35 g 15' $20 SIGN/IL Z1 15 VOLTAGE AUXILIARYGONTROL vozmaz I N V EN TORS. JOHAN L011)? WIJK [IE/[DH]? JUNK/YR WYLLEMELX Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UETE S cmcmr ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSMIT TING A SIGNALING VOLTAGE UNDER CONTROL OF AN AUXILIARY VOLTAGE Conn, as trustee Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,462 In the Netherlands April 20, 1948 3: Claims. (Cl. 315-9) This invention relates to a circuit-arrangement for passing a signalling. voltage under the control of an auxiliary voltage and exhibits the feature that the signalling voltage is fed to the collecting electrode, functioning as an anode, of a switch path which is included in a cathode beam tube and of which the second collecting electrode is a secondary emission electrode which functions as an auxiliary cathode and is connected to the collecting electrode, functioning as an anode, of a switch path included in a cathode beam. tube, the signalling voltage being taken from the auxiliary cathode of the second switch path and. this auxiliary cathode being connected to the deflection electrodes for the cathode bears of the first switch path in a manner such that in the event of the second switch path being closed, after temporarily increasing the potential of one of. the auxiliary cathodes, the first switch path isclosed, in which arrangement the second switch path is opened and closed by means of the controlling auxiliary voltage applied to one of the deflection electrodes for the cathode beam of the second switch path.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect it will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of example.

The circuit-arrangement comprises two cathode-beam tube systems i and 2 which act as relays and are represented only diagrammatically. Tube I comprises a cathode 3, means (not represented) producing a cathode beam, a pair of defiection electrodes 4, 5, and two collecting electrodes 6, l. The tube 2 has the same construction.

The collecting electrodes. 3', 52 of the two tubes act as anodes, the collecting. electrodes 5 and ii being secondary-emission electrodes and acting as auxiliary cathodes. The auxiliary cathode 6 and the anode l2 are interconnected and connected to point [3 of the potentiometer circuitarrangement It, 15. The auxiliary cathode l I, also, is connected to a potentiometer circuit l6, ll and the anode l is connected, across a resistance I8, to the positive terminal of the supply.

If the cathode beams of the two systems do not hit the respective auxiliary cathodes, a voltage equal to the battery voltage is set up at the anode 1, the auxiliary cathodes and the anode l2 exhibiting a voltage which is determined by the ratio between the potentiometer values and which, for example with equal resistances l4, l5 and equal resistances i6, ll, corresponds to half the battery voltage.

If the cathode-beam of tube l hits the auxiliary V cathode t, secondary electrons propagate to the anode l with the result that the potential of the auxiliary cathode and consequently also of the anode l2 increases-approximately to that of anode I. In this event the switch path formed by the since the beam of this relay is directed on to, the

auxiliary cathode H, the potential of the aux iliary cathode l l likewise increases.

The operation of these relays has been explicitly described in prior Netherlandish Patent Application 131,739.

The deflection plate 5 of relay 1 is given a con-- stant voltage, and the deflection plate t takes its voltage from the auxiliary cathode i l of relay 2. The constant voltage is chosen to be such that the beam of relay l hits the auxiliary cathode 6 only if a voltage exceeding the voltage determined by the potentiometer ratio It, ll is set up at the auxiliary cathode. I

The deflection plate 9 of relay 2 is likewise given a constant voltage, the controlling auxiliary voltage being applied to plate it The constant voltage has such a value that the cathode beam of relay 2 hits the auxiliary cathode it below a given value of the auxiliary voltage, but not above this value.

The anode l of relay l may be connected, by way of a change-over contact it, either to the auxiliary cathode 6 or, through a condenser 28, to the source of signalling voltage 2i e. g. machine.

If the controlling auxiliary voltage supplied is lower than the aforesaid value, the beam of relay 2 hits the auxiliary cathode H. As long as the switch path of relay l is not closed, no voltage:

increase occurs at the auxiliary cathode II. If, however, the change-over contact i2 is operated, the switch path of relay is short-circuited and the voltage set up at the auxiliary cathode 5 and the anode l2 increases. Due to this the voltage set up at the auxiliary cathode l l increases and consequently also the voltage set up at the deflection plate 4 of relay I, so that the beam of this relay hits the auxiliary cathode 6 and the switch path I is closed. If the change-over contact 29 is again operated to assume the position shown in the drawing, the short-circuit of the switch path of relay 1 is removed, but now relay 1! holds itself. At the same time the signalling voltage is fed to the anode l and passed to the auxiliary cathode I l through the series-connection of the switch paths of relays I and 2. The signalling voltage may a pulse.

3 now be taken, if required with the interposition of a blocking condenser 22, between the output terminals 23 and 24.

If the controlling auxiliary voltage applied to plate I increases, the switch path of relay 2 is opened. Due to this the voltage applied to the auxiliary cathode l! and deflection plate A decreases, as a result of which the switch path of relay l is opened. In this event no further signalling voltage is passed. If the controlling auxiliary voltage again drops below the said value, the beam of relay 2 hits again the auxiliary cathode II and the switch path of relay 2 is again closed. However, the switch path of relay I remains open and the signallin voltage is passed only after the change-over contact 19 has been operated forth and back.

What we claim is:

1. Switching apparatus responsive to a control voltage for conveying an electrical signal comprising first and second electron relay tubes each including a cathode to generate a primary electron beam, a beam deflecting element and two spaced collecting electrodes one of which acts as an auxiliary cathode emissive of a secondary electron stream when impinged on by said primary beam, the other electrode "acting as an anode for said secondary electrons, the secondary electron stream defining a'switching path -between the auxiliary cathode and the anode, the auxiliary cathode of said first tube being connected to the anode of said second tube whereby the switching paths of said tubes are serially connected, means to apply the control voltage to the deflecting element of said second tube to deflect the beam therein onto the auxiliary cathode thereof, means connectin the auxiliary cathode of said second tube to the deflecting element of said first tube, means to apply said electrical signal to the anode of said first tube, and means to obtain said electrical signal from the auxiliary cathode of said second tube.

2. Switching apparatus responsive to a control voltage for passing an electrical signal comprising first and second electron relay tubes each including a cathode to generate a primary electron beam, a beam deflecting element and two spaced collecting electrodes one of which acts as an auxiliary cathode emissive of a secondary electron stream when impinged on by said primary beam,

the other electrode acting as an anode for said secondary electrons, the secondary electron stream defining a switching path between the auxiliary cathode and the anode, the auxiliary cathode of said first tube being connected to the anode of said second tube whereby the switching paths of said'tubes are serially connected, means to apply a constant positive potential relative to cathode to the anode of said first tube having a predetermined magnitude, means to apply a constant positive potential to the anode and auxiliary cathode of said second tube having a magnitude which is small with respect to said predetermined magnitude, means to apply the control voltage to the deflecting element of said second tube to deflect the beam therein onto the auxiliary cathode thereof, means connecting the auxiliary cathode of said second tube to the deflecting element of said first tube, means to apply said electrical signal to the anode of said first tube, and means to obtain said electrical signal from the auxiliary cathode of said second tube.

3. Switching apparatus responsive to a control voltage for passing an electrical signal comprising first and second electron relay tubes each including a cathode to generate a primary electron beam, a beam deflecting element and two spaced collecting electrodes one of which acts as an auxiliary cathode emissive of a secondary electron stream when impinged on by said beam, the other electrode actin as an anode for said secondary electrons, the secondary electron stream defining a switching path between the auxiliary cathode and the anode, the auxiliary cathode of said first tube being connected to the anode of said second tube whereby the switching paths of said tubes are serially connected, means to apply a constant positive potential relative to cathode to the anode of said first tube having a predetermined magnitude, means to apply a constant positive potential relative to cathode to the anode and auxiliary cathode of said second tube having a magnitude which is small with respect to said predetermined magnitude, mean to apply said control voltage to the deflecting element of said second tube to deflect thebeam therein ontothe auxiliary cathode, means connecting the auxil iary cathode of said second tube to the deflecting element of said first tube, selective switching means operative in one position to connect the anode of said first tube to the auxiliary cathode thereof in another position to apply said electrical signal to the anode of said first tube, and means to derive said electrical signals from the auxiliary cathode of said second tube.

J OI-IAN LODEWIJK HENDRIK J ONKER. WILLEM SIX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,262,406 Rath Nov. 11, 1941 2,441,296 Snyder, Jr., et a1. May 11, 1948 

